En m'appuyant sur vos remarques, vos discussions, vos blogs et vos récits, je peaufine notre voyage de 18 Jours au japon en octobre.
Voici le projet actuel .
Merci de me dire ce que vous en pensez, toutes vos propositions et conseils sont les bienvenus. Merci aussi de bien vouloir répondre aux questions que je me pose encore .Elles sont multiple , mais je vais cibler l'essentiel .
Arrivée Tokyo
Une nuit et 3 jours complets .Hébergement à ASAKUSA.
Quartiers privilégiés avec Asakusa : Odaîba, Roppongi , Shinjuku
Nous aimerions voir un entrainement de Sumo.Pas facile apparemment.
Quelle formule de pass choisir pour Tokyo 3 j , en incluant le transfert depuis Haneda ???
3j à Hakone et Mont Fuji avec le Pass local de 3 jours , cela couvre tous les déplacements locaux ainsi que le train Tokyo Shinjuku à Hakone. Bien ou pas ?
Les hébergements sont chers là bas .Avez vous quelques pistes par hasard?
2j à Nagoya ( 1j à Toyota pour la visite de l'usine automobiles).
Nagoya à Takayama en train
2J à Takayama et Kamikochi .
Pas de plan pour l'instant . Je suis preneuse .
4j à Kioto dont 1j à Nara .Le contenu est à élaborer , y compris l'hébergement
3 j à Osaka et retour en France depuis l'aéroport du Kansai .
Pour le Kansai , je pensais prendre le pass local qui couvre Kioto / Nara / Osaka est-ce une bonne idée??
Je suis dans le doute sur les pass locaux ou le JR pass ( quand? combien de temps? ou combinaison des 2 ??, ).J'ai beaucoup de mal à me projeter .
Pouvez vous SVP me donnez vos avis
J'attends vos commentaires avec impatience.Merci d'avance
Bien à vous tous .
mon expérience commence à dater, mais voici quelques idées. Tu peux également aller voir mon carnet pour compléter mes propos.
Arrivée Tokyo
Une nuit et 3 jours complets .Hébergement à ASAKUSA.
Quartiers privilégiés avec Asakusa : Odaîba, Roppongi , Shinjuku
Nous aimerions voir un entrainement de Sumo.Pas facile apparemment.
Quelle formule de pass choisir pour Tokyo 3 j , en incluant le transfert depuis Haneda ???
Asakusa est un joli quartier, Odaiba bien marrant. J'avais moins apprécié Roppongi. Ikebukuro et Ueno sont également bien sympa.
Pour le sumo, 2 liens:
les différentes Beya
Un descriptif du quartier Ryogoku
2J à Takayama et Kamikochi .
Pas de plan pour l'instant . Je suis preneuse .
Une journée pour visiter Takayama et hida-no-sato.
Une journée pour Kamikochi
4j à Kioto dont 1j à Nara .Le contenu est à élaborer , y compris l'hébergement
Je te laisse à mon carnet pour te faire un avis. Pour l'hébergement, choisis le pas trop loin de la gare centrale, tous les bus amenant aux lieux touristiques y font une halte.
3 j à Osaka et retour en France depuis l'aéroport du Kansai.
2 jours pour la ville et une sortie? Himeji, Koya San?
Pour le JR pass, tu vas sur hyperdia pour calculer tes trajets. Tu compares ensuite avec le prix du pass. Les pass locaux, vu tes déplacements, pas sûr qu'ils soient rentables...
Je reviens du Japon le mois dernier et ait fait un itinéraire quelque peu similaire au tien.
=> Asakusa très bien, nous étions entre Ueno et Asakusa. Logement trouvé sur Agoda.com
Personnellement, Odaiba ne me tentait pas trop.
Très sympa à faire: le SkyTree de nuit.
Tsukiji market, si vous y arrivez à 10h tapantes.
L'entraînement de Sumo, on a pas réussi, nous.
Peut-être un tour à Shibuya pour voir la "folie" Tokyoïte?
=> Hakoné, superbe.
3j me paraissent un peu long pour Hakoné uniquement. A moins que vous ne vous approchiez plus de Mont Fuji et la région des lacs.
En réalité, ça dépend surtout de la météo.
S'il fait très beau et que le Fuji est clair, une journée suffit pour faire la boucle des attractions (train touristique, funiculaire, ropeway, bateau, etc...).
Il peut valoir le coup de patienter jusqu'au lendemain si la météo l'oblige.
Sympa à faire: la seconde ropeway, non incluse dans le pass. La meilleure vue sur le Fuji.
Se rejoint soit avec l'autre compagnie de bateau, soit en bus.
Sachez qu'il y a de nombreuses lignes de bus dans le coin, il n'est pas obligatoire de ne faire que les transports touristiques, au final plus lents.
Ne pas manquer le musée en extérieur, très sympa.
Personnellement, nous avons dormi un peu plus bas, à Miyanoshita.
=> Takayama: Faire au minimum une excursion. Kamikochi est réputé superbe (fermé, pour nous! Trop tôt dans la saison). Y randonner.
Il y a aussi une ropeway à Shinhotaka, s'il y a encore de la neige, c'est sympa.
Superbe Onsen à Hirayu, une sorte de hub des lignes de bus.
Il est très facile de faire l'arrêt et de reprendre un autre bus plus tard.
Y manger du Hida Beef!
C'est un peu cher, mais moins que le Kobé, et succulent.
Chez Maruaki, c'était très bien.
=> Kyoto!
Nous avons fait 2 nuits à Nara pour ne pas être pressés, je dois dire que c'était appréciable.
Temple sympa en dehors des sentiers battus car en dehors du parc: le Shin Yakushi ji. 12 statues impressionnantes en cercle, une par signe animalier annuel.
Dans tous les cas, louer des vélos, c'est idéal!
Sinon les grands classiques à Kyoto:
- Golden Temple, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama...
- Un autre temple pas cité dans mon guide et vraiment superbe: San juu san do.
1000 statues dorées entourent un gigantesque buddha.
- Pontocho et Gion, à la nuit tombée.
Autrement, je n'ai fait ni Osaka, ni Nagoya.
Prenez un JR pass, rien de plus simple. Ca vous permet de sauter dans n'importe quel train sans avoir à réfléchir.
Hyperdia pour les horaires, oui.
Il y a même une application Androïd.
Je n'ai pas encore écrit d'articles sur mon voyage japonais, je ne peux pas vous encourager à le consulter, mais ça ne saurait tarder!
Bon voyage!
Timothy
www.teamtravels.world
des infos détaillées sur des destinations où je me suis rendu
Des précisions et des remarques plus que constructives , j'apprécie .
Cela complète à merveille notre projet .
Pour ce qui est d'Hakone, nous pensions randonner aussi autour des 5 lacs , c'est pour cette raison que nous avons prévu 3j .
Mais il y avait aussi un autre argument , c'est que le pass fuji n'existe que pour 3 jours et comme nous hésitions avec le JR pass .....
Une autre question à ce propos : Peux tu me préciser ce qui est inclus dans le JR pass en plus des trains répertoriés ( bus, métro, ropway ???, ) C'est important pour nous, car cela a un coût et s'il y a sans cesse des suppléments , il faut voir ...
D'autre part nous arrivons à l'aéroport vers 22h 45 , le temps de récupérer nos bagages je ne sais pas si un bureau sera ouvert pour retirer le pass le soir et couvrir notre déplacement jusqu'à l'Hôtel
En fait, pour résumer ce sont les transports qui m'intriguent le plus , car cela semble complexe au niveau des formules à choisir .Chaque région proposant un pass avec plus ou moins de services inclus .
La carte Suica et Pasmo qui sert de porte-feuille est -ce bien ?
Dans l'attente de ton article , je te remercie très sincèrement .Si tu penses à d'autres tuyaux n'hésite pas .
Bonne continuation
La zone d'Hakoné n'est de toutes façons pas incluse dans le JR pass.
Par contre, vous pouvez prendre le shinkansen jusqu'à Odawara avec, ce qui fait que le pass pour Hakoné est moins cher.
N'est inclus dans le JR que les trains de la compagnie JR. Quelques régions sont gérées par des compagnies différentes, typiquement Hakoné ou Koya-San par exemple.
La carte Suica ou Pasmo c'est très pratique pour le métro. L'une des deux permet aussi de prendre les bus à Kyoto.
Par contre, arrivée 22:45, il faudrait vérifier s'il y a encore des trains pour Tokyo. Pas si sûr.
À+!
Tim
www.teamtravels.world
des infos détaillées sur des destinations où je me suis rendu
Nous partons avec mon copain pour la première fois au Japon du 04/05/2015 au 23/05/2015... (Et oui, les premiers jours tombent pendant la golden week mais pas…
On nous a organisé un voyage pour 2 du 30 octobre au 18 novembre et je voulais avoir vos avis 7 nuits à Tokyo en hôtel 3 nuits à Takayama en ryokan 5 nuits à…
Nous partons à 7 à 2 familles avec 3 enfants de 9,10 et 13 ans du 6 au 23 août. Voilà un premier projet de parcours pour lequel je souhaite reçevoir des avis.…
Je fais faire appel à vos conseils qui semblent avisés, vous les spécialistes du Japon! Pour nous ce sera un itinéraire de 18 jours (+ ou -) pour Aout 2016,…
Je pars en famille (2 enfants de 7 et 11 ans) au Japon à l'été 2020. Les billets d'avions sont pris et je commence à regarder l'itinéraire (pour répartir les…
je demande vos avis de connaisseurs sur un voyage de env 1 mois au Japon.
De fin octobre à fin novembre 2026.
Nous voyageons souvent en Asie du Sud-Est mais avons jamais fait le Japon.
D'après mes diverses lectures j'aimerais bien que vous me dites si :
- voyager du jour au jour, sans avoir pris les hôtels, ni le train en avance...est possible au Japon.
(j'ai lu plein de carnets de voyage ou blogs qui indique que tout a été réservé longtemps en avance .. mais ce n'est pas notre façon de voyager habituellement).
- le Japan Rail Pass sera favorable pour nous ?
(d'après un simulateur (vieux ??) je suis à environ 400 euros de train par rapport à 570 pour JRP)
Voici notre circuit prévu en gros lignes (qui peuvent bouger) :
- Arrivée Osaka 3 nuits avec Nara
- Hiroshima et île de Miyajima 3 nuits
- Kurashiki ou Naoshima 2 nuits
- Himeji 1nuit
- Kyoto 4 nuits
- Kanazawa 2 nuits
- Takayama et Shirakawa go 3 nuits
- autour Mont Fudji 3 nuits
- Tokyo avec Nikko 6 nuits (sans aucun parc d'attraction)
départ Tokyo
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
